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Ofcom: “BBC should play to its strengths”

Ofcom has published its annual report on the BBC, assessing the corporation’s performance in meeting the needs of viewers and listeners during the period April 2024 to March 2025. The report also includes the findings of Ofcom’s second ‘Periodic Review’ of the BBC. Drawing on extensive audience research, industry data and stakeholder information, the report […]

November 28, 2025By Colin Mann

Australia: Content quota for streamers becomes law

Australia’s federal parliament has passed legislation that will enforce content quotas for major SVoD platforms such as Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video. The national government announced it would roll out such quotas earlier this November, which require streaming services with over 1 million domestic subscribers to spend 10 per cent of their total Australian expenditure […]

November 28, 2025

Brazil: Anti-piracy action takes down 535 websites

Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) has carried out the eighth phase of Operação 404 (Operation 404), an action aimed at combating crimes against intellectual property on the Internet. This is the largest international mobilisation in the country, with the participation of Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and the UK. Mexico and the US […]

November 28, 2025By Colin Mann

Eutelsat shareholders upset over Rights Issue

The past week has seen Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat raise some €1.5 billion overall in fresh money to improve its reserves and to finance investment in the proposed IRIS2 mega-constellation. But while majority shareholders have supported the cash raising exercises, the Rights Issue, raising €670 million, has seemingly upset minority shareholders. Eutelsat’s share price has […]

November 28, 2025

ESA secures €22bn in funding

Even though some programme approvals are still pending, the European Space Agency (ESA) wrapped up its two day Ministerial meeting in Bremen, Germany, by announcing it had received commitments from its 27 member states which total €22.1 billion for the next three years. The sum is the largest-ever with the ESA noting: “Confirmed support for […]

November 28, 2025By Chris Forrester

MFE takes 32.9% stake in Impresa

MediaForEurope (MFE) has acquired a 32.9 per cent stake in Impresa, the Portuguese media group, broadcaster of the SIC television networks, and publisher of digital and print publications, including the weekly Expresso. MFE will now operate in six countries: Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal. The investment – valued at $20 million (€17.2m) and […]

November 27, 2025

France: Thematic channels under pressure  

Over the last ten years, French thematic channels have lost some €800 million in distribution revenues, which decreased from a total of €2.55 billion in 2014 to €1.76 billion in 2023. Over the same period, their ad revenues fell by 40 per cent, according to trade body ACCES. In 2025, 400 jobs were lost and eight thematic […]

November 27, 2025From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Macquarie sells off Arqiva stake

Macquarie Asset Management, on behalf of Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II and other Macquarie-managed vehicles, has agreed to the sale of their interests in Arqiva, the UK’s main distributor of TV, radio and cellular signals. Macquarie has been a long-term investor in Arqiva, which provides critical data, network, and communications services to media and utilities […]

November 27, 2025By Chris Forrester

Zegona announces proposed use of proceeds from FibreCo sales

Zegona Communications has announced the proposed allocation of the €1.8 billion proceeds from two recent FibreCo transactions. The proposal is to return €1.6 billion to shareholders and use the remaining €200 million for debt reduction. The €1.6 billion shareholder return includes a €1.4 billion special dividend (£1.62 per Zegona ordinary share) and a €200 million […]

November 27, 2025

Ofcom updates on Media Act implementation

Ofcom is publishing two updates as part of its ongoing work to implement the Media Act. The Media Act imposes new standards requirements on streaming services (known as on-demand programme services, or ODPS) which people in the UK watch across a range of platforms and devices. Well-known ODPS services include Disney+, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer […]

November 27, 2025By Colin Mann